Many over-the-counter antacid tablets are now formulated using calcium carbonate as the active ingredient, which enables such tablets to also be used as dietary calcium supplements. As an antacid for gastric hyperacidity, calcium carbonate reacts by combining with hydrochloric acid found in the stomach, producing a solution of calcium chloride, converting the stomach acid to water, and releasing carbon dioxide gas (which the person suffering from stomach problems may feel as a “burp”). Write the balanced chemical equation for this process.

We have the following reactants and products: 1. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3): Reactant 2. Hydrochloric acid (HCl): Reactant 3. Calcium chloride (CaCl2): Product 4. Water (H2O): Product 5. Carbon dioxide (CO2): Product

Now that we have the chemical formulas for the reactants and products, we can write the unbalanced chemical equation: CaCO3 + HCl -> CaCl2 + H2O + CO2

To balance the chemical equation, we need to equalize the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. Currently, the equation is unbalanced as there are two chlorine atoms on the product side, while only one chlorine atom is on the reactant side. Similarly, there are two hydrogen atoms on the reactant side, while only one hydrogen atom is on the product side. To balance the equation, we need to multiply the number of molecules of hydrochloric acid (HCl) by 2 and the number of molecules of water (H2O) by 2: CaCO3 + 2HCl -> CaCl2 + 2H2O + CO2 Now the equation is balanced as there are equal numbers of atoms of each element on both sides: 1 calcium atom: 1 (reactants) = 1 (products) 1 carbon atom: 1 (reactants) = 1 (products) 3 oxygen atoms: 3 (reactants) = 3 (products) 2 hydrogen atoms: 2 (reactants) = 2 (products) 2 chlorine atoms: 2 (reactants) = 2 (products)

The balanced chemical equation for the reaction between calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid is: CaCO3 + 2HCl -> CaCl2 + 2H2O + CO2